“What do you mean you have to go?”
Lyra brought her hands together in a pleading manner. “Sorry, it’s important. The orchestra called an emergency meeting. Apparently, some nub messed up the mallets for the timpani. They asked me to buy some replacements, and I wanted to catch up with Vinyl before she left.”
Aquamarine eyes softened as she chuckled. “So what I’m hearing is you’re trying to gyp your friend on some band equipment?”
“Bon Boooooon,” Lyra whined. “Don’t say it like that.” Her lip stuck out in a cute pout. “Asking for a discount doesn’t mean I’m trying to gyp her.”
With a giggle, Bon Bon brought Lyra into a light kiss. “Sorry. I couldn’t resist. You’re just so easy to pick on.”
The pout struggled to stay in place as a crimson red flush began to spread across Lyra’s mint green cheeks. “Tease,” she muttered.
Bon Bon’s smile brightened, loosing one last chuckle. “I’m done then. Go get Vinyl before you have to face the horrors of paying full price.”
Lyra caved under the warm glow of Bon Bon’s joviality, and she finally allowed herself to grin. “Date night at El Taco Guapo?” She asked.
Bon Bon rolled her eyes. “Whatever did I do to be blessed with such a classy girlfriend.”
Laughing, Lyra finally mustered up the will to pull away. “You know it.”
“Don’t run in the halls…and you’re gone.” Bon Bon watched the receding form of her girlfriend.
She let out a long-suffering sigh even as her smile firmly fixed itself on her lips. She never understood how she’d fallen for that girl. It was true, Lyra was messy, disorganized, and careless, but there was something so sweet about being with her, a hint of normality, a haven she could rest in when life got too strange.
Her eyes blinked as she looked into her locker.
Speaking of strange…
A plain white envelope lay clumsily on her Algebra book, likely slipped from the vents on the locker door. She blanched, noticing the heart shaped sticker that sealed the envelope. She hadn’t gotten a love letter since freshman year. After all, her relationship with Lyra was the world’s worst-kept secret. Everyone in the school already concluded as much, and Bon Bon hadn’t heard of any recent transfer students, not since the other Twilight Sparkle.
A strange, prickling sensation dotted the back of her neck making the soft peach fuzz stand at attention. There was something wrong. She couldn’t place a finger on it, but there was just…something…
As she stared at the plain surface of the envelope, she rolled it over in her hands, finding nothing of note. Shrugging, Bon Bon ripped the sticker and pulled out the small card.
Dear Bon Bon, it read, I haven’t spoken to you much but I’d like to. Please meet me at the D lockers by the old biology lab.
With a deep breath, she felt for the cool lump on her side, trying to draw comfort from it’s bulk.
D lockers in the old biology lab, she thought. Oh, god. She trudged down the hall, a clear picture painting itself in her head, one she could hardly believe. But the suspicion was there, wishing to be disproven.
“Hey, Bon Bon.”
But of course, it wasn’t.
Sunset Shimmer was casually leaning against the lockers, surrounded by the shadows of the tenebrous hallway.
“You sure like this place.” Bon Bon stated with a kind smile.
Sunset returned it. “Yeah. It’s kind of a guilty pleasure of mine, coming here to think. It’s comforting somehow. That’s not weird is it?”
Bon Bon shook her head. “It’s very poetic of you.” She lifted the envelope, ripped heart forward-facing. She curled into herself, shoulders pitching upward in a sheepish bow. “Unfortunately, it’s not reflected in your letters.”
Sunset brought a hand to scratch at the nape of her neck, looking away with a timid smile. “I know. Sorry about that. I guess I shouldn’t ask Twilight to help me next time.”
Bon Bon bit her lip. “You remember that I’m with Lyra, right? We’ve been together for, like, over three years.”
“I know,” Sunset stated, voice soft and smooth. “What you two have is really beautiful, that’s why I’d never do anything to jeopardize your love life.” Sunset toed the floor with her boot, hands held behind her back. “But you have something I need.”
Bon Bon watched, a curious desire to flee clawing at her stomach. She blinked as Sunset’s form began to shift. Not in any noticeable fashion, no fiery wings, no darkened sclera, no magical puff of smoke or light beam. It was subtle, like the transition of tepid water as it turns into a block of ice. She couldn’t tell when it happened—when Sunset’s timid persona gave way into a daunting personage. She squared her shoulders, face contorting into a menacing glower, the dark shadows accenting the luminescent quality in her teal eyes. They were harsh, calculating, and spared not a single ounce of remorse. “I know you’ve been fiddling with something that doesn’t belong to you,” she began. “I can feel the Equestrian magic sticking to your clothes and your skin. It’s time to give it back.”
Bon Bon’s eyes widened as her heart crescendoed into a frenzied beat. “Sunset, what are you talking about?”
Sunset chuckled dryly. “You can cut the act, Agent Sweetie Drops.”
Bon Bon’s surprise dropped from her face, replaced by a blank frown. “How do you know about…”
“You should know not to underestimate how resourceful I can be.” She cut in. “Though I admit, It’s a curious concept, raising promising young orphans into…well, people like you. That’s a lot of ambition and foresight on the founder’s part.” Sunset crossed her arms, “But that’s not what I wanted to talk about. “You have something from my home and I’d like to see it returned.”
Bon Bon—no—Agent Sweetie Drops set her jaw, narrowing her eyes into razor thin slits. “And if I say that’s an impossible demand?”
The corner of Sunset’s mouth quirked, as she raised her head. “I think you’ll find a way.” She lifted the left side of her leather jacket revealing a pocket inlaid on the silk interior. It was exquisite, the handy work of Rarity’s careful stitching. However, that wasn’t what drew her attention. Sunset reached an amber hand into the pocket, producing three separate polaroids.
“Still as old fashion as ever, I see,” Sweetie stated.
Wordlessly, Sunset tossed them forward, scattering them before the cream skinned girl.
They were of her, save for one.
The one that fell farthest from her was quite boring to the eyes, just a picture of her, surrounded by a dozen or so coffee cups, scattered on the dashboard. She looked frazzled and worn. Several curls had unwound to stick out in random angles. Dark bags were under her half lidded eyes as she slumped over the steering wheel. Her first steak out.
Another showed her at a dead sprint. She sported her favorite black trench coat, useful for concealing the holsters that wrapped around her chest and waist. It flapped open as she was reaching for her favorite weapon. Though not the most practical of handguns, the Ruger GP11 was a pretty sight.
The last one…
Agent Sweetie Drops kicked herself for allowing her breath to hitch. It was a microscopic movement, barely a twitch to her neck muscles, but it was enough for Sunset’s smirk to widen knowingly.
There, dressed in a black fabric that hugged her form, face hidden in a ski mask and a pair of large goggles, was her old rival. She was holding a large necklace with a glittering blood red jewel. It had an ethereal shine, even through the poor quality of the photograph. It was set in a metal sculpture of a horse, a long horn protruding from it’s head, and a pair of black wings, outstretched.
“The Pied Piper.” Sweetie growled.
Most infuriating of all, was the thief was posing for the camera, evident by the peace sign she held up with the free hand that wasn’t flaunting her loot.
The reason for her enrollment to Canterlot High, the mission she was tasked with, all hinged on the capture of this one dirty thief. She’d alluded and toyed with Sweetie for years, and now, Sunset Shimmer was standing there, smiling, smug as a kitchen rat, practically telling her that she knew who was behind this masked menace.
“I should have known you were in cahoots with this vagrant.” She marched forward, hand reaching for the concealed revolver under her shirt. “I could kill you.” She whipped out the firearm, a look of pure hatred on her face. “It would be a mercy, but maybe, I’ll turn you in instead, let them ring the truth out of you.”
Sunset’s face remained cool as a cucumber, even going so far as to bravely step forward, right up to the barrel of her gun.
“Your mission is compromised, Agent. It has been since the beginning. I know a lot about this target, but I also know a lot about your little ‘organization’.” Sweetie’s hand began to tremble, whether from rage or fear, Sunset couldn’t tell. She frowned at the shaking hand, and casually angled the barrel away from her chest. “Anything happens to me, then those secrets that you’ve tried—and failed—to keep hidden will automatically be sent to Piper and her little friends.”
“Damn you!” Sweetie cursed. “Damn you to hell!”
Sunset ignored her. “What will you do, Agent?”
Ragged breathing filled the hall as the single tube of light flickered. The gush of blood filled her ears as Agent Sweetie Drop’s blood bubbled and boiled. Her thoughts raced and she tried forcing them into a different conclusion, some kind of escape or some kind of out.
Sunset waited patiently, hands limply dangling by her sides, her posture was loose, eyes steadily trained on her.
With a deep breath, Sweetie Drops returned her revolver back to her side as she schooled herself into a blank mask. “What do you want?” She intoned.
Sunset’s face stayed impassive. She looked into the dark pupils of the young Agent’s seething eyes. “There was an artifact that fell into your keeper’s lap. I know you can sense the power inside it. Get it to me. I don’t care what you have to do.”
With a grudging nod, Agent Sweetie Drops turned on her heel and began to walk away.
“I’ll see you in Advanced Lit tomorrow, Bon Bon.” She called.
There was no response, leaving Sunset in the relative stillness of the dim hallway. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” Sunset took a deep breath, collecting herself before walking the way Bon Bon had left.
The bite of the winter winds were harsh, and Lyra found herself shivering under the street lamp. She leaned against it, feet making a triangle on the ground as she crossed her arms. The sun had long since started it’s descent, and the gentle purples of twilight had painted half of the sky. An outline of the moon hung itself in preparation for it’s travel. Lyra breathed the frigid air, feeling it chill her nose.
“How’s it going, Lyra?” A husky voice carried through the wind, breaking the spell of silence.
She pushed off of the lamp post to look at the new arrival. “It took you long enough,” she grinned.
“Sorry.” Sunset stepped into the bubble of light. “I had something I needed to take care of.”
“No worries, but let’s hurry it along. I have a date and it’s cold as balls out here.” Uncrossing her arms, she revealed a box, causing Sunset to laugh.
“You even wrapped it. That’s cute. You should have told me; I would have wrapped my gift too.” She reached into her right breast pocket, producing a heavy black pouch.
She lobbed it into Lyra’s waiting hands. “It’s okay. I like it better this way.” She quickly stowed it into her jean’s pocket. “Let me know if you have any other jobs you want done.”
“We’ll see.” Sunset pined the box under her arm before shoving her freezing hands into the depths of her pockets. “I think your girlfriend got the message, but you can never have too many back-ups.”
Lyra gave a low whistle. “Careful, Shimmer. She’s tougher than she looks.”
“Not tough enough to get away on her own.”
Lyra raised a brow. “Don’t diss my girl. Not everyone can be like me.” A thoughtful look crossed her face. “Plus, if your plan works, they’re going to turn on her soon.”
“Oh?” Sunset tilted her head curiously.
“Yep. Meaning…” Lyra looked at the other girl expectantly.
“I get it.” She replied. “I’ll help in your crazy rescue plan when the time comes.”
“Thanks.”
With a shake of her head, Sunset looked at Lyra with a weary frown. “A deal is a deal. I’m just taking responsibility for the decisions I made.”
“Yeah. So you say.” Lyra inhaled, rubbing her hands together. “Not that I’ll let you off the hook, but are you gonna be okay? I know how hard you’ve worked to change. Doesn’t this kinda undermine your…umm…rehabilitation or whatever.”
“It’s a little different.” Sunset’s eyes lowered, half lidded in thought. “If it’s to protect my home, I’ll be who I need to be.”
Lyra clicked her tongue, before shrugging. “Well then, I guess I’ll keep you posted.”
“Good Night, Lyra.”
With a casual salute, Lyra began her trek towards El Taco Guapo, the moon now bright against the inky canvas of night.
Author's Note
Introducing Not-So-Secret Secret Agent Sweetie Drops
You haven’t seen the last of her
